As, a web-enrichment activity, we were asked to analyze specific software review websites and compare the information they presented. The websites were:
- SREB EvaluTech http://www.evalutech.sreb.org/
- California Learning Resource Network http://www.clrn.org/home/
- SuperKids http://www.superkids.com
- Education World http://www.educationworld.com
The following questions were to be considered in comparing the above-mentioned sites:
- Which sites evaluate the largest number of titles?
- Which sites are most recently updated?
- Which sites include reviews submitted by site visitors?
- Which sites would you use to learn about software you were considering for your students?
When I tried visiting the SREB software review site, I was redirected to a "test page." Apparently, SREB has their software site either under construction or has deleted it entirely. This resulted in an apparent inablity to compare this site to any others. On its "About" section it did mention that they had software reviews that were submitted by media specialists and teachers. This was not confirmed due to the site being down.
The sites with the most impressive amount of software information and reviews were Education World and the California Learning Resource Network. SuperKids also had a large amount of different software. Software titles were divided into subjects and grade levels. Education World had the most current updates on software reviews, even highlighting "Gadgets of the Week" for teachers to research. Next was CLRN, with the most recent update in November, 2011. SuperKids had reviews submitted by site visitors or members, but each review had to follow a specific testing protocol to obtain the most helpful information for readers to apply. As previously mentioned, SREB supposedly had software reviewed by media specialists, teachers, and other education administration. CLRN had trained Californian educators with specific content knowledge to conduct reviews. Education World used teachers as well as technology coordinators to conduct reviews on products. The sites I would be most likely to use would be Education World and the California Learning Resource Network. Education world had enourmous amounts of resources on software systems including strategies for the software use in your classroom, reviews, and common/related software products. Also, with Edu World being the most up-to-date, it would be the the best route for choosing the "latest and greatest" professionally reccommended software to use in the classroom. CLRN would be my next choice, with its easy-to-navigate web page and clearly categorized sections.
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